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The head doesn't seem to understand the difference between race and religion.

Even if it WERE racial, we're talking children here. A permanent record for incorrect-think is absurd.

Keep in mind also that the distinction between religious and racial discrimination is not so distinct to many people. It's mainly secularists who draw the line at genetic (racial) and learned (religious), but even that line is questionable. Many people (generally progressives) argue that race is not something real anyhow, it's more a product of culture... but if it's a product of culture, then it's learned, more like religion, than inherited.

While the state has an interest in preventing discrimination from stepping on anyone's rights, it has no business defining one's opinions, or punishing bad opinions.

It's interesting they can somehow document "discrimination" in an school record.

It isn't surprising that people conflate race and religion, especially in UK and other parts of Europe where Muslim populations are largely from the Middle East and South Asia. Cultural identity and practices overlap religion so much, I could see them all being part of a package we call "race".

The idea of race is overwhelming cultural, not biological. There are no clear boundaries, and the DNA doesn't support it. Now that many people consider racism a bad thing - which they should - the definition of racism is evolving too.

Here in the US, we have social reactionaries proclaiming that Santa Clause and Jesus are white, so "get over it" so to speak. That's even though Santa and Jesus are just a much social constructs as race.

Back to the school trips. One of the big "dangers" to conservative - especially reactionary - religious parents, might be to expose kids to view that are not the ones their parents want. The risk is then kids question whether an absolute worldview is real. They might be attracted to another world view, or might think they are all OK, or there is nothing perfect about the religion of their parents.

Children who ask questions like how and why are a danger to all extremists and absolutists and as such should be encouraged at every opportunity and therefore by the same reasoning anyone who attempts to stop children asking why and how should be removed from the educational process.

I don't think everyone actually conflates race and religion, but many, if not most people view them as a similar level of personal privilege. The argument that some secularists seem to put forth, that race is fundamentally different seems to hinge on the genetic aspect, though as you have commented, that aspect is rather vague (as a side point, however, I will hold that to say race is entirely a cultural construct is to simply deny the elephant in the room, or say he's just the same as a gorilla... genetics is involved). There are no clear boundaries in the DNA (mainly due to mixing these days) but there are no real boundaries in the cultural construct also. In both cases though, the absence of boundaries does not eliminate the existence of archetypes which anyone can plainly see.

The word 'racism' has become a major poison word in our culture, perhaps dangerously so. Just the implication of racism (as currently defined) is enough to make people back down from positions because NO ONE wants to be a racist. But the term itself has become rather rubbery, including a lot of minor sins. The abhorrence of racism dates to the brutal mistreatment that people received because of their race.... this treatment is absolutely unacceptable, and most people recognize that.

However there is almost a cottage industry of rooting out new 'racism' (sometimes attempting to lay a substantial guilt trip on people for not being sufficiently pure). Some people have preferences (given our tribal evolution, it's not surprising). If these preferences do not interfere with fair treatment of others, they are of a vastly different magnitude than the offenses that created the term racism, and should be viewed in context.

Civilization (hopefully) teaches us to separate our inner prejudices (we all have them, tribal mammals that we are) from our social behavior.

Why people identify themselves in popular recognisable groups. A look at groups and the problems that occur when people identify themselves with different groups and the conflicts that result from the perceived differences.

That's it sb. People in this area won't risk their children thinking outside their, very narrow, box of religious beliefs. An aquaintance once told me he refused to question the bible for fear of going to hell.